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Summary
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) will observe a countrywide strike against restrictions on the export of cotton yarn.Strike will be successful and will continue till the acceptance of our demands, said Punjab APTMA Chairman Ejaz Gohar.Addressing a press conference, vice chairman APTMA Sheikh Muhammad Akbar claimed that although yarn producers have manufactured more yarn but government adopted restrictions on export of yarn at 35,000 tonnes per month from 50,000 tonnes. He added that the entire sector is now confronted with challenges and now they are left with no option except to close down their businesses.On the other hand, Minister for Textile and Industry Rana Farooq Saeed Khan rejecting APTMAs March 18 strike call announced that the government would not be blackmailed by any sector. Yarn manufacturers are trying to get undue advantage of the yearn situation but the government will not be impressed by any threat, he added. He said the government had cut export quota of yarn to 35 million kilogrammes from 50 million kgs to save the local industry. The minister recalled that the government saved textile industry last year when it was on the verge of collapse. We had provided uninterrupted supply of gas, electricity and reduced mark-up rate to promote the industry, he claimed.
